Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad

20140427:
Prior to having the Ovila Quad, my friends and I drink a little Shiner Ruby Redbird.

Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad - bottle

I wrote: "Ovila Quad. This beer smells real nice. It smells a bit like the Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA. It tastes strong, but not nearly as strong as the 120. Of course, that's a good thing, because the 120 almost burns. A friend of a friend describes the taste as being similar to pomegranate paste. Actually, even the viscosity reminds her of the pomegranate paste." 7:42PM ET

Of course, this led into a conversation about how our past experiences and how we describe them (in words) help us shape how we describe (in words) our future experiences, but that the experience themselves often go beyond the words we use.

I also wrote: "After the strength eases down, the darkness of the beer has a chocolate taste to it." 7:55PM ET

Finally, I also wrote: "Overall, I would have to say I really liked this beer."

Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad - beer in a plastic cup

[20140514]

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Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad

Relevant Links:
Ovila Quad (BeerAdvocate.com)
Sierra Nevada Ovila Quad (RateBeer.com)
Ovila (Sierra Nevada Website)

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Website Information:

Ovila Abbey Ales are a series of Belgian-inspired beers brewed in collaboration with the monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina, CA. An homage to the time-honored monastic brewing tradition, Ovila Abbey Ales combine the quality and craft of those dedicated artisans with a dose of American brewing innovation. Featuring ingredients grown by the monks on the grounds of the abbey, Ovila Abbey Ales are a fresh twist on the ancient brewing tradition.

Southern Tier Hop Sun

20140426:
I alternated drinking this Southern Tier Hop Sun with the 90 Minute IPA. Doing so made the bitterness of the IPA and the citrus of the Hop Sun stand out.

I wrote: "This Southern Tier Hop Sun Summer Wheat has a lovely citrus taste. I can't put my finger on it, but I can detect something else in the flavor as well. Hmm... In any case, it's really nice." 8:58PM ET

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Southern Tier Hop Sun

Relevant Links:
Hop Sun (Southern Tier Website)
Southern Tier Hop Sun (RateBeer.com)
Hop Sun (Summer Wheat) (BeerAdvocate.com)

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Website Information:

Make Hop Sun part of your summer survival kit, and no amount of heat or humidity will get you down. This summer thirst-quencher is not your average wheat ale. Light and slightly dry, it is the addition of fresh hop flowers after fermentation that adds a necessary kick on a hot summer day. Hop Sun is mild enough to be a refreshing summer offering, but has just enough of a hop profile to keep your taste buds tingling for another sip. Wheat, barley, and hops coalesce in this superb session ale, a telltale symbol of fun in the sun. Summer never tasted so good.

FOOD PAIRINGS: particularly tasty with fresh mozzarella, berries, gazpacho, light picnic fare, BBQ.

AVAILABILITY: Spring/summer / 12oz (6pk and 24 bottle cases) / 1/2 keg, 1/6 keg

ABOUT THE BEER
STYLE: American Wheat Ale
BREWED SINCE: 2004
ABV: 5.1%
FERMENTATION: Ale yeast, one variety of hops, three types of malts
COLOR: Straw, light honey
EFFERVESCENCE: Crisp, moderately carbonated
NOSE: Bready wheat, light hop aroma, lemon rind, pine.
FLAVOR: Balance of malts and hops, pleasantly bitter finish, light sweetness from wheat.
BITTERNESS: Light
BODY: Light, refreshing
SERVING TEMPERATURE: 45-50°F
GLASS: Weizen glass, pint glass, mug
AVAILABILITY: Spring/summer / 12oz (6pk and 24 bottle cases) / 1/2 keg, 1/6 keg
CELLARING: 40-45°F

ALLERGENS: This beer contains wheat

Weyerbacher Merry Monks' Ale

20140424:
I wrote: "Berry sort of smell. Easy, berry sort of taste. Real solid beer. Oh wow, this doesn't taste like its ABV at all, 9.3%. Ah... I don't know how to describe the flavors in this beer, but they're good." 10:55PM ET
I also wrote: "Floral smell. Good stuff." 11:21PM ET

[20140506]

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Weyerbacher Merry Monks' Ale

Relevant Links:
Merry Monks (Weyerbacher Website)
Merry Monks' Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Weyerbacher Merry Monks Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Merry Monks

WINNER: Bronze Medal 2010 World Beer Cup Category 47: Belgian-Style Tripel

WINNER: Best Belgian Beer, Philly Beer Scene Awards: 2010, 2012, 2013

Merry Monks’ is a Belgian-style Tripel. Pilsner malt combined with an abbey yeast strain yields a remarkable and complex flavor packed with notes of spice, banana and pear. Nicely balanced, with a moderate to dry finish, Merry Monks is bottle conditioned which imparts a special effervescence to the beer and a creamier carbonation. 9.3% ABV.

The on-going fermentation inside the bottle will change the character of the beer as it ages, and you’ll find it becomes dryer with age. You may want to lay down a few bottles for future evaluation. We suggest storing at cellar temperatures – around 55°F – and away from light. (Read about cellaring beer here!)

This 9.3% brew is available year-round. Keep your eye out for Merry Monks’ Ale in 25oz. cork-and-cage champagne bottles for an exceptional experience!

2010 Menhir Albanegra Rosso Salento

20140423:
I had this wine at a Mediterranean restaurant called Pazo.

This wine had a nice red smell. It had a smooth, spicy taste. I further tried to describe the wine's smell and eventually got to calling it "deeply fruity." Smelling the wine some more, I began to think that it only smelled like the average red wine. 7:41 PM ET

[20150128][20180709 Edit]

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2010 Menhir Albanegra Rosso Salento*

Relevant Links:
2010 Vini Menhir Albanegra Salento IGT (CellarTracker.com)

*While I'm not sure about the wine's vintage, the majority of Google search results are for the 2010 vintage.

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Website Information:*
On 20150127, I did an internet search for this wine and found two sites which seemed to agree (one was in Italian and one was in English).

First site:

Albanegra - MENHIR SALENTO - Annata 2010 - 0.75l
Albanegra – Menhir Salento
Rosso Salento IGT
Vitigno: Aleatico, Primitivo e Malvasia
Terreno: media profondità , ad impasto argilloso
Note enologiche e di affinamento: macerazione pre-fermentativa, fermentazione a temperatura controllata
Colore: rosso rubino con riflessi violetto
Gusto: delicato, fresco con retrogusto avvolgente
Bouquet: misterioso, fruttato e speziato, richiama aromi di fragola di bosco, alloro e timo
Affinità gastronomiche: cestini di formaggio pecorino con cicorie selvatiche, gulash alla tedesca, zuppa di verdure, arista con salsa alle mele e prugne, cioccolata fondente e mandorle
Temperatura di servizio: 14°-16°

Second site:

Albanegra
GRAPE VARIETALS: Aleatico, Primitivo and Malvasia
SOIL: shallow clay
WINEMAKING PROCESSES AND REFINING: pre-fermentary maceration, temperature controlled fermentation
COLOUR: ruby-red with a violet tint
TASTE: delicate and fresh, with a subtle aftertaste
BOUQUET: fruity and aromatic with wild strawberries, laurel and thyme
FOOD PAIRING: baskets made from pecorino (sheep's milk cheese) with wild chicory, German goulash, vegetables soup, saddle of pork cooked in a sauce of apples and plums, plain chocolate and almonds
WINE SERVING TEMPERATURES: 14-16 °C

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Website Information: (CellarTracker.com)

Vintage2010
TypeRed
ProducerVini Menhir
VarietyRed Blend
DesignationAlbanegra
Vineyardn/a
CountryItaly
RegionPuglia
SubRegionn/a
AppellationSalento IGT
UPC/EAN Code8033109070201

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale

20140421:
Last June for the Firefly Music Festival I bought a six-pack of Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale and a six-pack of Oskar Blues Old Chub. Of course, while Oskar Blues makes great canned beer (no glass bottles are allowed on festival grounds), the beer of choice was good old Shiner Ruby Redbird, which was much more apt for the hot weather. As a consequence only one of the twelve cans of Oskar Blues was consumed, a can of Old Chub. In any case, while almost a year has passed I still have a can of each left!

Fast-forwarding to today (20140421) at CVP (Charles Village Pub), my friend had barely touched his Dale's Pale Ale (draft). Delightfully, I finished it off and took note of it.

I wrote: "After having a Full Tilt Camden Cream, this Dale's Pale Ale has more of a banana taste." 10:31PM ET

[20140422]

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20140422:
Today (20140422), while looking to add the above entry (20140421), I was shocked to find that I had not recorded any previous notes on this beer! With only one can of Dale's Pale Ale left, it was perplexing to me that I lacked notes for any of the five other cans. In contrast, I have accounted for all but one of my Old Chub cans.

In any case, while drafting this post, I decided to open my last can of Dale's Pale Ale (see also 20140421 above).

While just under a year old, this can of Dale's Pale Ale actually tastes pretty darn good. More specifically, it doesn't taste like its gone bad at all. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to have any of the banana notes or any of the flavor which I thought I detected yesterday (20140421), so keeping the can around for close to a year probably isn't a wise choice. In addition, the beer's bitterness seems to have much more presence and I notice it with every sip. Of course, as with almost any beer, the perceived amount of bitterness roughly declines over the course of the drinking period.

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Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale

Relevant Links:
Dale's Pale Ale (Oskar Blues Website)
Dale's Pale Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Dale's Pale Ale
This voluminously hopped mutha delivers a hoppy nose and assertive-but-balanced flavors of pale malts and citrusy floral hops from start to finish. Oskar Blues launched its canning ops in 2002, brewing and hand-canning Dale’s Pale Ale in the Lyons, ColoRADo, brewpub. America’s first-craft-canned mountain Pale is a hearty, critically acclaimed trailblazer that changed the way craft beer fiends perceive portable beer (6.5 percent ABV and 65 IBUs).

SUGGESTED FOOD PAIRINGS:
GREAT WITH AN ALL AMERICAN HAMBURGER.

Left Hand Milk Stout

20140419:
Today my friend Arash and I went to Washington D.C. to walk around and enjoy the weekend. Before heading home, we had a drink at Iron Horse Taproom, ate dinner at District Taco, and had frozen yogurt at TangySweet.

Left Hand Milk Stout - glass half full

I wrote: "I got a glass of Left Hand Milk Stout, $8. Arash got a glass of Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA, $9. My milk stout definitely has a malty, chocolate smell. It has a nice creamy and smooth tasting head. Overall, the beer tastes fuller than a Guinness. The head stays nice and thick." 5:57PM ET
I also wrote: "Hmm... I'm pretty sure I like this Left Hand Milk Stout more than Guinness. It has a decent amount of taste, but perhaps not as satisfying as a complex Belgium ale." 6:15PM ET

Left Hand Milk Stout - empty glass (lacing)

Of Iron Horse Taproom I wrote, "Iron Horse has an interesting low key atmosphere to it. There doesn't seem to be any food available, but there are plenty of televisions. There's also some entertainment spread around, such as shuffleboard and skeeball. While that was cool, I thought the place also had a wet carpet smell." 6:18PM ET

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Left Hand Milk Stout

Left Hand Milk Stout - full glass of beer

Relevant Links:
Milk Stout (Left Hand Website)
Left Hand Milk Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)
Left Hand Milk Stout (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

MILK STOUT

ROASTED MALT AND COFFEE FLAVORS BUILD THE FOUNDATION OF THIS CREAMY SWEET STOUT.

Milk sugar in your stout is like cream in your coffee. Dark and delicious, America’s great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. "Preconceived notions are the blinders on the road to enlightenment." Udderly delightful.

BEER GEEK
COLLECTION: Perennial
STYLE: Sweet Stout
COLOR: Black, 47 SRM
BODY: full
ABV: 6%
IBU'S: 25
PLATO: 15.5°
PKG: 6-Pack, Keg
MALT: Pale 2-row, Crystal, Munich, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley and Chocolate
HOPS: Magnum and US Goldings
OTHER: Lactose

PAIRINGS
Brings out the best in rich, sugary foods like cake, BBQ.

AWARDS
Gold Medal, 2013 Great American Beer Festival
Gold Award, 2013, 2012, 2009 European Beer Star Competition
Gold Medal, 2008, 2006 World Beer Cup
Silver Medal, 2008 Great American Beer Festival
Silver Award, 2007 European Beer Star Competition
Silver, 2007 North American Beer Awards
Bronze, 2007 Australian International Beer Awards

Rogue Dead Guy Ale

20140412:
I wrote: "Rogue Dead Guy Ale. This beer is dark and slightly bitter, but I'd say its reasonably drinkable. Hmm... it has a slight porter taste to it." 6:45PM ET
I also wrote: "Hmm... I'm not sure if I should have enjoyed it as much as I should have... haha." 7:01PM ET

While I was very close to just having another Rogue Dead Guy Ale, I ultimately decided to first drink a bottle of New Belgium Fat Tire.

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Rogue Dead Guy Ale

Relevant Links:
Rogue Beers (Rogue Website)
Dead Guy Ale (BeerAdvocate.com)
Rogue Dead Guy Ale (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

DEAD GUY ALE
TASTING NOTES AWARDS & HISTORY
STYLE: German Maibock FOOD PAIRING: Spicy,Pork
TASTING NOTES: In the style of a German Maibock, brewed using our proprietary Pacman yeast, Dead Guy Ale is deep honey in color with a malty aroma, rich hearty flavor and a well balanced finish.
9 INGREDIENTS: 2-Row, C15, Munich, Rogue Farms Dare™ & Risk™ Malts; Perle & Sterling Hops; Free Range Coastal Water & Pacman Yeast.
“Deep reddish amber hue. Generous toasty malt aromas and earthy hops follow through on a moderately full-bodied palate with fruity accents and a long spicy hop finish. A delicious hybrid style with bock-like maltiness but ale-like hopping.” –World Beer Championship Judges
22oz, 12oz, 6-pack, Growler & Draft / 16° Plato / 40 IBU / 78 AA / 16° Lovibond

Victory Storm King Stout

20140410:
I wrote: "Victory Storm King. This beer has a chocolate taste, though the standard stout-like chocolate taste and not the malty chocolate taste I encountered early with the Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout. Three beers is getting close to a bit much, but free beer is good beer! In any case, I feel like I've either had Victory Storm King before, but long ago, or not ever before." 7:16PM ET
I also wrote: "Oh wait, the beer was recently recommended to me. Yes, it is indeed a beer worthy of recommending. Oh right, all these beers were just a bit warm. That probably had a way of really opening up the flavor. Maybe that Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout wouldn't have been so bad if it were colder." 7:27PM ET

[20140423]

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Victory Storm King Stout

Relevant Links:
Storm King Stout (Victory Brewing Website)
Storm King Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)
Victory Storm King Imperial Stout (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Storm King Stout
American Imperial Stout

Emerging from the deepest shades of darkness, a rolling crescendo of flavors burst forth from this robust stout. The thundering, hoppy appeal of Storm King subsides into the mellow subtleties of roasted malt, exhibiting an espresso-like depth of character in its finish. An exquisite blend of imported malts and whole flower American hops merge harmoniously in this complex ale. Discover the dark intrigue of Storm King, as it reveals the rich, substantial flavors that it holds within.

Composition
Malt: three imported, 2 row malts
Hops: whole flower American hops
ABV: 9.1%

Flavor
Rolling in like a tempest in a tankard, Storm King is dense and full-bodied, with deep, dark chocolate flavors of roasted malts under a massive hop aroma, Storm King will assault your senses and then soothe your soul.

Food Pairings
smoked ribs, brisket and chocolate.

Availability
Year-round in 12 oz. bottles and on draft. Occasionally available cask-conditioned.

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

20140410:
I wrote: "Sierra Nevada Kellerweis. There's nothing special about this beer, but its definitely good tasting in contrast to the Samuel Smith Organic Chocolate Stout I just had." 6:56PM ET
I also wrote: "Hmm, actually this beer had an interesting taste. It's different from a regular hefeweizen." 7:02PM ET

I would definitely recommend this beer to anyone who loves drinking hefeweizens.

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Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

Relevant Links:
Kellerweis (Sierra Nevada Website)
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen (BeerAdvocate.com)
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

KELLERWEIS®

Untamed, unfiltered, and unafraid.

Inspired by traditional Bavarian techniques, Kellerweis is a true artisan experience. With Kellerweis, we brew in open fermentation tanks—a process rarely seen today—to let the ingredients truly shine. The result is a hazy wheat ale—untamed, raw and alive. With a full, fruity aroma and notes of spicy clove and banana bread, Kellerweis is a truly unique brew.

Open Fermentation

Most beer is made in tall, cylindrical, fermentation tanks. Some beers, however, just can’t be confined. Beers that feature unique yeast character just won’t behave like the others. These beers thrive in traditional open fermenters—steel tanks, open at the top to allow the yeast to breathe, live, and be happy. The yeast reacts differently when given this free-range alternative, producing depth, character and flavor.

OVERVIEW
ALCOHOL CONTENT 4.8% by volume
BEGINNING GRAVITY 12.3° plato
ENDING GRAVITY 3.5° plato
BITTERNESS UNITS 15

INGREDIENTS
YEAST Hefeweizen ale yeast
BITTERING HOPS Perle or Sterling
MALTS Two-row Pale, Wheat, Munich

FOOD PAIRING
CUISINE Fruit Salad, Grilled Salmon, Bratwurst
CHEESE Brie, Camembert

Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout

20140410:
While I was warned that this beer would taste extra malty, I was willing to try it anyways.

I wrote: "Samuel Smith. Organic Chocolate Stout. It smells very sweet. It smells like caramel. It has a really chocolate taste. Oh, it tastes exactly like eating malt balls." 6:53PM ET
I wrote: "Uh... yeah. I finished the beer, but it was mostly only good to sip on. It was actually overly malty." 6:53PM ET

Two weeks later and I can still remember the taste clearly in my mind. I remember the first sip was quite shocking and I ambiguously thought that the beer was both tasty and disgusting. With a couple more sips, I was able to detect the flavor, but was overwhelmed and wanted to stop drinking the beer less than halfway through. While I repeatedly thought about tossing the remains, I slowly sipped more and more until next thing I knew I had finished the bottle.

In any case, if you like eating malt milk balls (e.g., Whoppers), then you should definitely give this beer a try. Otherwise, you might want to stay away or just bum a sip off a friend. With that being said, I've also tried some other beers by Samuel Smith which might cater to a wider audience:

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
Samuel Smith's Organic Apricot Ale
Samuel Smith's Organic Cherry Fruit Beer
Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter

[20140425]

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Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout

Relevant Links:
Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout (Samuel Smith Website)
Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout (BeerAdvocate.com)
Samuel Smiths Organic Chocolate Stout (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout

Brewed with well water (the original well, sunk in 1758, is still in use with the hard water is drawn from 85 feet underground), the gently roasted organic chocolate malt and organic cocoa impart a delicious, smooth and creamy character, with inviting deep flavours and a delightful finish - this is the perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate.

Best served at about 51°F (11°C).

Full Tilt Camden Cream

(20140407)

20140407:
I wrote: "Full Tilt Cream Stout. The head dissipates quickly. The beer is yellow in color, or perhaps a muddy orange. It has a pale ale smell. The taste though is a bit more mellow than a pale ale. The drink is very drinkable with a good amount of carbonation. Like a tastier Natty Boh." 9:20PM ET
I also wrote: "This beer is actually called Full Tilt Camden Cream. I really focused on the carbonation coming from this thing. Bitterness, however, is a low factor. There is some, but not much." 9:31PM ET

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20140421:
I wrote: "Full Tilt Camden Cream. High carbonation. Slightly bitter aftertaste. Slightly hoppy. Has a softer ale taste. Slight ale smell. Hmm... I think I am not fond of the bitterness." 10:03PM ET
I also wrote: "Yeah... I'm not a fan of this beer. The bitterness... blah." 10:20PM ET

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Full Tilt Camden Cream

(20140421)

Relevant Links:
Camden Cream (BeerAdvocate.com)
Full Tilt Camden Cream (RateBeer.com)

Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux

20140403:
This beer had a slightly cloudy, orange appearance and a distinct lemon smell. Wow, the head had a strong alcoholic taste and was bitter. Fortunately, the beer itself was quite balanced. Overall, it had a bright taste with some bitter overtones. 10:39PM ET

Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux - glass and bottle

[20160426 Edit]

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20140404:
Having had some in the bottle leftover from yesterday, I had the rest and thought that the flavors had settled nicely. In fact, I had even left the bottle uncorked.

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Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux

Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux - bottle

Relevant Links:
Bons Voeux (Dupont Website) (English)
Avec les Bons Voeux (BeerAdvocate.com)
Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Bons Voeux

TYPE
Alcohol: 9,5 % vol.

The Bons Vœux is a blond top fermentation beer with refermentation in the bottle.

Since 1970, the brewery has been brewing a special beer to give as a new years present to their best clients. (the name of this beer "Avec les bons Vœux de la brasserie Dupont" means "With the best wishes of the brewery Dupont").

Because of the increasing success, they started to commercialise this "cadeau" but kept the name. Although the demands were considerable, only a small quantity was brewed, so they had to make a reservation list, even months before new year.

This Bons Vœux is coppery blond, has very fine hoparomas and tastes bitter, fruity and mild.

Our selection of yeasts, in combination with a longduring riping process, on a “dry hopping” base, are creating a typical and complex aroma and taste.

A real refermentation in the bottle, which will continue for a long time in your cellar, result in a harmonious and well-balanced beer, full of unexpected and complex aromas.

DÉGUSTATION
To drink at cellar temperature (12°C) or even chilled, as an aperitif or as the companion of your paté, anguilles à l’escavêche…

CONDITIONS
Bottles : 37,5cl, 75cl, 150cl
Kegs : 20L (restricted quantities)

Public Works Ale Red Cent Amber

20140402:
We haven't had so many nice days in Spring yet, but today was one of them and it called for hanging out in front of CVP (Charles Village Pub) and having a beer or two. However, having come from yoga and grading homework, I only had the time to have one before my friends were ready to head home. In any case, I went with the current special draft beer in rotation, Red Cent Amber.

 Public Works Ale Red Cent Amber - glass partway full with beer

I wrote: "Red Cent Amber. Four bucks. Nice smell. Sweet, easy, hoppy smell. Quite tasteless mostly." 9:53PM ET
I also wrote: "The beer rounded out nicely despite the simpler initial taste." 10:20PM ET

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Public Works Ale Red Cent Amber

 Public Works Ale Red Cent Amber - bottle and full glass @ Donna's (20131125)

Relevant Links:
Public Works Ale Website
Red Cent Amber (BeerAdvocate.com)
PUblic Works Red Cent Amber (RateBeer.com)

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Website Information:

Red Cent Amber
With a rich, coppery color, this ale looks as good as it tastes. Generous rations of malt and barley create a smooth, well-balanced flavor.

12 Fluid Oz
354 ML
5.25% Alc by Vol
30 IBU

Public Works Ale Red Cent Amber - glass just under half full with beer